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Aziz looked around, with a er and nodded, then walked away quickly Laine stood there, waiting as he slipped through the crowd She thought for adress and be pulled in that direction Every move he made seemed well-rehearsed He’d seduced a woman or two in his time

He would probably be a better match for Emma, to be honest Hedonism wasn’t exactly Laine’s forte

Laine looked up at the nearest screen on the wall It had gone black and flickered to a screensaver of a doodle bouncing around The uests an—a funky brass-led tango wafting out over the speaker system

Aziz returned and took her hand

At once they were in the middle of the floor, his hand in hers as he swept her in circles Their dance o, but that was fine Laine didn’t kno to tango She did know that the feeling in her chest—the light, breathless, and joyful feeling—was one she hadn’t experienced in years

He’s a player He kno to do this to woave her a dip, and a twirl, and then pulled her close to his broad, warm chest, and her reservations evaporated

“Everyone is looking,” she said, turning her head out to face the party

Aziz caught her chin with two fingers “As they should There is nothing else worth looking at”

Laine’s heart sped up in her chest Was it fro so close to Aziz? She couldn’t tell, but she liked it The rush of feeling surged through her like a wave, and suddenly she was rising onto her toes, clutching the sides of Aziz’s face, and pressing a kiss to his full lips The scruff of his light beard brushed against her chin as she kissed hiainst her back Laine shuddered

“A…Aziz,” she , and the two of theainst one another The air around them seemed to vibrate

“You started it, tiger,” he said with a heavy voice He didn’t let go

“I did, I really did, but…” Laine frowned and tried to come to her senses This wasn’t her She wasn’t the woman who drew the attention of the most powerful man in the room She wasn’t the woman who drew every eye to her “I…I need sorasp